Tom Hooper’s epic musical Les Miserables is a marketer’s dream. With a cast bursting at the seams from star power – Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Sacha Baron Cohen, Russell Crowe and Helena Bonham Carter among the most notable – and based on a beloved book/musical/epic, there’s little that can go wrong. Unless, of course, the film collapses in the most epic manner.
Based on the trailers, posters and clips we’ve seen so far, that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. On that note, today First Showing brings us a new poster of Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean. It’s your standard character poster of a very brooding and tortured-looking Jackman gazing soulfully into the camera. The tagline Freedom Is Mine might not bear scrutiny – what does that mean, exactly? – but it works for a portentous statement of epic conflict.
Les Miserables is an adaptation of the stage musical based on Victor Hugo’s classic 19th Century novel of violence and redemption – is there any other kind of 19th Century novel? – about paroled prisoner Jean Valjean, his allies and his enemies.
With Hooper in the director’s chair, a spectacular cast in front of the camera, and the original writers of the stage musical behind the script, it’s likely that this will be one to write home about. At the very least, we’ll get a brooding and singing Hugh Jackman, which is the best type of Hugh Jackman.
Les Miserables releases Christmas Day. Check out all the broodiness below.
